Method of trimming pompons and machine therefor



C. HARwooD. ME'THOD 0F TRIMMING POMPONS AND MACHINE THEREF APPLICATION FILED FEB. M T922.

Patented 001. 3, 1922.

5 SHEETS-*SHEET 3.

C. HARWOOD. METHOD 0F TRIMMING PoMPoNs AND MACHINE THEREFOH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB1B, I92'2. 1,430,737'.

Patented 0ct. 3, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented @en 3, i922.

.stares PATENT i/rnTHon or TRIMMING- Poi/irons AND MACHINE Tnnnnroa.

Application led February 18, 1922. Serial 1\l'o.,537;,58y5.v

To all ifi/tom it may concern:

Ee it known that l, CLARK ll'lnnwoon, a citizen of the United States,` residing at lewtom in t ie county ot' Middlesex and State oit Massachusetts, have invented new and usetul Improvements in Methods ot Trimming Pompons and Machines There-` ion of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to quickly .and accurately trim a pompon composed of a bunch ot threads assembled side by side, and united at their central portions or midway betweenv their ends by a binder such as a length of wire wrapped around and compressed upony thebimch.r in the completed pompon the threads radiate from thebinder in such manner as to 'form a substantially hemispherical bodyyf'the `periphery of which is formed by the ends of the threads uniform length,` the periphery presents an unsym'metrical and uneven'appearance. lleretoiforej the trimming' operation has been performed by hand-operated shears or scissorsv` actingon threads which are loose or unsupported laterally. The uniformity ot the length of the `trinrimed threads has been dependent wholly on the slrill ot the operator, much care being` required in trimming the loose ends tion is open to the objection that it is rela tively slow and expensive.l and is liable to be .'mperfeci'vly performed My invention' eliminates these objections, and provides tor the clamping and rigid confinement ot' the major portions ott the' threadsytreedom oil the outer end portions ot the threads trom lateral connement, and the trimming oil' ot the said end portions at their junction with. the laterally conlined portions, so that l form multiplicity ot out ends equidistant :from the conter ot the pompon, and imparting the desired symmetry and evenness to the completed pompon.

The invention is embodied in the improvements herona iter described. and claimed.

@t the accompanying drawings forming a part ot this specilicatiom- Figures 1` i2 and 3 are .side elevations oi? a machine embodying the invention.

Figure d is a top plan view of the same. Figures 5 and 6 are agmentary elevations showinga the pompon gripping ro` tary jaws? and a disk-cutter associated therewith. i

Unless the threads are trimmed tof t the threads.y This opera-` ligure 7 is a View similar to `Figure 5, showing an alternative form vof cutter. I

`Figure 8 is a partial section on line 8 8 of Figure 4r l `Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view,` showing a portion of therotary carrier and one of the pomponsupporting and rotating jaws. l nl f i Figures 10 and 11`are side and end views of an untrimmed pompon. Y

Figure 12 is a side view of a pompom'the threads of which are radially larranged on supporting jaw shown by dotted lines.

Figure 13 is a" fragmentaryvelevation7 showing` portions of supporting jaw, the movable gripping jaw hereinafter referred to, and apompon gripped and compressed between the jaws, a portion of a disk cutter being shown by dotted lines.' v

Figure 14 is a section on line 'le-14 of Figure 13. y y

. Figure 15` is a view similarto Figure 13, showing the trimmed pompon.'

The'sameireterence characters indicate the same 4parts in all of the figures.

A pompon which the maohineof my invention vis adapted `to trim is composed ot a bunch of threads 16, arranged side by side, and a wire binder 17 wrapped around the bunch midway between its ends, as shown by Figures 10 and 11.

A `pompon-trimming machine embodying my invention comprises apair ot circular jaws 2O and 21, formed to {lat-ten a pompon interposed between them, and to grip and compress the major portion of the pompon. As shown by Figure 1% the pompon threads are radially arranged upon the jaw 20, whichis the supporting or lower jaw, the center of the pompon being at the center of the jaw. rlFhe diameter of the jaw is such that the outer ends oit the threads project radially from its periphery. rlhe` jaw 21. which isthe gripping or upper jaw7 is coaxial with the supporting jaw 20, and is movable towardI and from the latter by means hereinafter described, to alternately compress andrelease the pompon. When the pompon is compressed, its threads are rigidly confined andpa'ollzed together, so that a cutter 22, adapted and arranged to act on the projecting ends of the threads in close proximity to the peripheries of the jaws, is enabled to readily trim said ends by a well defined cut, the jawsv preventing the threads from yielding to the pressure of the cutter` j i The machinel `includes means .for extending the cutting action around the jaws, so that a circular edge is formed o n the poinpon, all the threads being of uniform length. The cutting action is preferably caused to extend around the jaws by rotating the same while they areclosednpon the pom-y pon, the cutting action being, therefore,

progressive.

Thev cutter 22is preferably a flat-sided disk having a continuous circular` cutting edge 22a (Figure 14), and arranged so that o neof its sides vis tangential to the peripheries of the jaws, and its cutting edge is in close proximity to said peripheries, and therefore arranged to act on unyieldingor inflexible portions of the `pompon threads.

When the pompon has been trimmed, its circular edge is substantially flush with the peripheries of the jaws, as shown by Figure The `machine preferably includes avpluralityfof the supporting or lower jaws 20, and one gripping or upper jaw 2l, thelower jaws being moved progressively, so that they cooperate one by one with the upper jaw, which has no progressive movement, and is located over the4 pat-h of the lower jaws. The lower jaws 2O are fixed to verticalshafts 23, which are journaled in bearings 24 (F igure 9) in a rotary carrier 25. Said carrier .is annular, and vis-rotatable about a fixed hub 2G (Figures 4 and .8) `on which the inner edge of the. carrier bears Thecarrier is in sliding contact with and supported by a raised circular portion 29 of the top member 30 of the .machine frame, as best shown by Figure 8. The machine frame isprovided at one side with a feeding tableBl', on' which an rattendant may move pompons on to the lower jaws, and at the opposite side with a discharging table y32, with which is associated a pompon-withdrawingv mechanism, adapted to remove trimmed pompons from the lower The cutter 22 is located between said tables, and is rotated by suitable mechanism presently described.

The carrier 25 is rotated step-by-step, and is held vat reist after each partial rotation, the arrangement being such that when the carrier is at rest, one lower jaw 2() is at the supplying table 3l, another is at the` cutter 20, and a third is at the discharging table 32. The means for rotating and holding thecarrier may be embodied as follows:

34; represents internal gear fixed to the carrierconcentric with the axis thereof, 35 represents a pinion meshing with said gear, and carried by a vertical shaft 36, and provided with a small bevel gear 3S, mesh.- ing witlra larger bevel gear 39, onta horizontal shaftAO.- A Geneva movement composed of .a peripherally recessed and radially slotted wheel 4l, fixed to the shaft 40, and a disk 42 fixed to a continuously rotated horizontal shaft 43, and provided with a wristpin 44, imparts a step-by-step or intermittent rotation from the shaft43 tothe shaft 40, and to the carrier-25, the periphery of the disk 42 engaging the peripheral recesses in the wheel 4l, and the pin 44 engaging the radial slots in thel wheel 41, as usual in a movement of this character.

The sha-ft 43 is provided with a gear 46, meshing with `a gear 47 on the continuously rotated main driving-shaft 48.

Mechanism is provided for rotating each lower jaw when it reaches or is located adjacent to the cutter 22. Said mechanism may be embodied in a friction drive or couple, composed of a driven pulley 49, fixed to the shaft 24 of said jaw, and a driving pulley 50, fixed to a vertical shaft 5l, a friction wheel 52, fixed to the shaft l,y and a friction segment 58, on a` disk 54, fixed to the `shaft 43, and engaging the wheel 52, during a part of each rotation of the shaft 43. The mechanism last described is organized to impart a complete rotation to the lower jaw 20, adjacent to the cutter, while the carrierv25 is at rest, and then leave the said jaw at rest. j i

The upper jaw 2l is movable vertically in a `lixed path, to cause it to cooperate with the lower jaw 20, which is adjacent to the cutter, inv alternately gripping and releasing the pompon on said lowerjaw. The mechanism which operates the upper jaw may. be embodied as follows: The upper jaw is fixed by a set screw 55, to a vertical spindle 56,` journaled in a bearing 57,v on an arm 5S. Said arm is fixed to a verticalv tubular slide 59, movable ona fixed stud GO, on the frame, and prevented from'turning on saidl stud by alrey 5l, fixed to the stud and entering' a lreyway in the slide.- Fixed to the slide 59 by a set screw .62, is a vertical connectingrod 63, extending through a fixed guide in the frame and provided at its lower end with a head (54, having a trundle-roll` 65, which is pressed upward by a spring 66, against a cam 67, fixed to the shaft rThe upper 2l is vertically reciprocated by the described mechanism, the cam 67 imparting a downward n'ioveinenit, and `the spring 66 an upward movement. finti-friction balls 68 are interposed between the upper jaw 2i and the bearing 57,. to permit a free rotation of the upper jaw with the lowerl jaw with which .it cooperates. Thecutter 22 is preferably supported by a horizontallyV` reciprocating carrier composed of a slice 69, movable between fixed guides 7() on the frame, and astandard 7l, fixed to the slide and having a bearing in which is journaled a shaft 80,.to which the cutter is `fixed. llhe cutter is therefore movable to and from its operative position,J and is moved. back from said position as shown'by Figure 2, whenit is not in use, and 'forward to the position shown by Figure 6, when a pompon is being trimmed. The cutter may be moved, as described, by mechanism including a segmental cam 73 (Figure 2) lixed to and projecting laterally from the gear 46, and a lever 711:, ulcrumed at 75, and havinga trundle roll 76, which is heid by a spring 77 in the path of the cam. @ne arm ot the lever has a slot 78, engaging a stud 79, on the carriage standA ard 71. The cutter 72 is fixed to the shaft S0, journaled in the carriage standard 71, and adapted to rotate and move endwise in a fixed standard 81. he cutter and its shai't are rotated by a shaft 82, having a gear 83, meshing with a gear Se, which is engaged with the cutter shaft 30, to rotate therewith, and permit endwise movements of the sha'lft. rllhe shaft 82 may be driven by a belt 35, engaging a pulley 86, on the shaft, and driven by a pulley 87, on the main driving-shalt 18, idle pulleys 88 and 89 being provided as shown by Figure 3, to guide the belt.

Each supporting jaw 20 is provided with a clutch, adapted to engage a pompon placed by the operator on the jaw when it is at rest at the supplying table 31, mechanism being provided for operating said clutch to cause. it to engageand anchor the pompon, and confine it on the supporting jaw until the latter approaches the discharging table. As shown by Figure 9, the said clutch may be composed of two spurs 90, pivoted at 91 to the aw, and adapted to stand vertically to permit the impalcment of the central portion oi the pompon upon their pointed ends, and to be subsequently inclined as shown, to anchor the pomp-on against upward move* ment. The spurs 90 `pass loosely through slots in a head piecev 92, on a rod 93, which is movable endwise in the jaw shaft 23, the latter being tubula The lower end of the rod 93 has a 'foot piece 94, adapted to successively engage a fixed elongated segmental depressing cam 95, and a shorter lixed segmental raisingcam 96. Said cams are shown by dotted lines in Figure et, the cam 95 being shown in section by Figure 9. The form and arrangement of said cams are such that when a supporting jaw 20 is at rest at the supplying table 31, the spurs 90 are upright, and the toot piece 94. is out ot contact with the depressing cam lVhen a pompon is imjffaled on the spurs, and the carrier 25 is moved. the cam 95 engages the toot piece and inlines the spurs to anchor the pompon. lllhen the movement of the carrier brings the foot piece 94 into contact with the raising` cani 96, the latter raises the toot piece as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9, thus causing he head piece 92 to raise the spurs and ielease the pompon. -This action takes pl ce just before the jawA reaches the discharging table 32, so thatthe pompon may be .vithdrawn from the supporting jaw on to said table by the withdrawing mechanism next described.

[When the jaw moves onward from the discharging table, the foot piece 9e remains in the raised position to which it was moved by the cam 96, so that the spurs are held upright until they again reach the supplying table. The withdrawing mechanism con'r prises a tour-motion feed-dog 97, movable horizontally over the supporting-j aw 20, ich is at at the discharging table, said nog having a pomponengaging spur 98, and means for moving said dog forward over the jaw in a raised position, downward toengage the spur 93 with the pompon, backward to cause the spur to transfer the pompon to the table, and yupward to remove the spur from the pompon and prepare the dog for its next forward movement. The dogmoving means may include a slide 99 (Figure el), fixed 'to the dog and vertically movable in a fixed guide 100, a cam 101 (Figure on a shaft 102 (Figure 1) journaled in a x fixed bearing, a trundle-roll 103 (Figure on the slide 99, bearing on the cam, the trundle-roll and slide being vertically reciprocated by the rotation of the cam to rraise and lower the feed-dog, a rocker arm 104i (Figur-e pivoted at 105 to the trame, and at 1706 to the feed-dog, and a link 107 con-- necting the cam with the rocker-arm. The rotation ot the cam reoiprocates the feed-dog endwise through the link and rocker-arm- The cani shaft 102 is driven by a shaiit 108 (Figure el) having a gear109, meshing with a gear 110 on the cam shaft. rThe shaft 108 has a sprocket wheel 111 (Figure 1) con nected byy a chain 112 with a sprocket-wheel 113 on the shaft 13.

The operation is as follows:

in operator stationed at the supplying table 31, places a pompon on the supporting jaw 20, which is at rest at said table, the pompon being impaled on the clutch spurs 90, and its threads being spread radially on the jaw by the operator. The jaw is next advanced ,by the carrier 25, and held at rest adjacent to the cutter 22, and under the upper jaw 21, the clutch spurs being caused to anchor the pompon to the jaw, as described.

rlhe upper jaw now descends upony the pompon, so that the major portions oi the threads are firmly confined between the jaws. At the sametime the friction pulley 49 on the lower jaw shaft encounters the driving triction pulley, 50, so that the jaws and the pompon are rotated. The cutter 22 is moved forward at the proper time, and has the described progressive cutting action on the tree end portions of the threads of the rotating pompon, so that said end portions are cut off at their junctionwith the clamped portions, a smoothand even cut edge being at rest, the feed-dog removes the trimmed pompon to Y the discharging table. The 'threads of the trimmed pompons are nally given their final arrangement by the operator, who blows against the pompon in such manner to cause the threads to so diverge that their outer ends form the usual substantially' hemispherical surface.

Although l prefer to employ a disk cutter havingl a continuous cutting edge, I may employ a differently formed cutter, for eX- ample, one formed as shown by Figure 7, and having a 4plurality of arms 2On each sharpened at one edge and constituting a revolving shear blade, adapted to cooperate with a fixed shear blade 20h, which may be a Ydisk secured to the cutter carrier. In this case the cutting action will not be so close to the junction of the clamped and free end portions of the clamping jaws as when a single disk cutter is employed. To accommodate the thickened central portion of the pompon, due to the binder 17, I provide the jaws with coinciding recesses 2Oa and 21a, as shown by Figure 9.

.l am not limited to the specific mechanism of the embodiment of the invention shown by the drawings. It is obvious that the method hereinafter claimed may be practised kby the aid of any suitable means :for Clamping the major portions of pompon threads which have been radially arranged by an operator, the confinement being such that the radiating threads are rigidly supported throughout the greater portion of their length, and are free at their outer end portions, and that any suitable means may be employed for trimming off said end portions at their junction with the rigidly supported portions, the trimming instrumentality acting to make a. clean and well defined cut across allfof the threads, so that a smoothly trimmed edge face or periphery is formed.

I claim:

l. A pompon-trimming machine comprising, in.A combination, clamping means for applying clamping pressure to the major portion of a pompon, said means including an element permitting a radial arrangement of the pompon threads, so that the pompon is confined in the torm of a disk in which the threads radiate from the center, said clamping means being formed to rigidly support` the radiating threads throughout the greater portion of their length, and leave the outer end portions ofthe threads free, and trimming means adapted and arranged to have a cutting action on said end portions at their junction with the rigidly supported portions, means being provided for causing said cutting action to extend entirely around the clamping means.

2. A pompon-trimming machine comprising, in combinacion, clamping means for applying clamping pressure to the major portion of a pompon, said means including an element permitting a radial arrangement ot the pompon threads, so that the pompon is confined in the form of a disk in which the threads radiate from the center, said clamping .means being formed to rigidly support the radiating threads throughout the greater portion of their lengt-h, and leave the outer' end portions ofthe threads free, and trimming means adapted and arranged to have a cutting action on said end portions at their unction with the rigidly supported portions, means being provided -for rotating said clamping means and thereby causing said cutting action to extend progressively around the clamping means.

3. A pompon-trimming machine compris ing, in combination, a pair of circular jaws one of which permits a radial arrangement .of the pompon threads, said, jaws being formed to flatten the pompon, and to grip the ,major portion thereof, the diameter of the jaws being such that the Outer ends of the threads project from the peripheries of the jaws, and cutting means adapted and arranged to have a cutting action on said outer ends in close and unvarying proximity to the peripheries of the jaws, means being provided for extending said cutting action around the jaws to form a circular edge on the gripped pompon, concentric with the center of the aws.

4t. Apompon-trimming machine substantially as specified by claim 3, said jaws being centrally recessed to receive the thickened cent-ral portion of the pompon.

A pompon-trimming machine substantially as specified by claim 3, one of said jaws being provided with a pompon-engaging clutch, means being provided for operating said clutchto alternately anchor a pompon to the jaw and release it therefrom.

6. A. pompon-trimming machine substantially as specified by claim 3, one of said jaws being movable toward and from the other, means being provided for operating said movable jaw to cause the jaws to alternately grip and release a pompon.

7. A pompon-trimming machine comprising, in combination, a pair of circular jaws one of which permits a Tadial arrangement of the pompon threads, said jaws being -formed to Hatten the pompon, and to grip the major portion thereof, the diameterl of he jaws being such that the outer ends of the threads project from the peripheries of the jaws, and cutting means adapted and 1 ,acoger jaws.

d. pompon-trimming machine, comprising, in co"ioination, cutting meam, apairoi" coaxial circular awe oneot which Viermits a die( arra igement ci the pompon threads, nid jaws ,eing adapted to grip the pompon and hold threads radiating from a common center, a carrier 'for said aws movable in la prcilletermined path to permit the ing, in combination, cutting means, a pair ot (3o-axial circular jaws one of which permits a radial arrangement ot' the pompon threads, said jaws being adapted to grip the pompon and hold its threads radiating from a common center, a carrier for said jaws movable in a predetermined path to permit the application of a pompon to the jaws at a `given point, and the subsequent location of the jaws and the pompon gripped thereby in operative relation to the cutting means, mechanism for simultaneously rotating the jaws and operating the cutting means to cause the formation of a circular` edgeon the gripped pompon, one ot said jaws `being` positively supported at a predetermined height, and the other movable to apply and release the gripping pressure, a pompon clutch associated with one of the jaws, and mechanism operable by movements of the carrier 'for operating said clutch to alter` nately secure vand release a pompon.

10. A. pompon-trimming machine comprising, in combination, a rotary cutter, means ttor supporting and rotating the same, a pair oit circular aws one of which permits a radial arrangement of the pompon threads, said jaws being adapted to grip the pompon and hold its threads radiating 'from a common center, means for supporting said jaws in a predetermined position with relation to the cutter, and for rotating the jaws while thus supported, the arrangement being such that a circular edge is formed on the gripped pompon by the cutter.

11. A. pompon-trimming machine comprising, in combination, a rotary discoidal cutter, means for supporting and rotating the same, a pair of circular jaws one of which permits a radial arrangementot the "Ulicatiou ot a pompon to the jaws at a adiatingiirom a common center, and means iror supporting rotating said jaws in operative relation to the cutter, the arrangement being such that the'plane` ot the cutting edge is tangential to the jaws, and in smh proximity thereto as to cause the torniation `ot a circular edge` on the gripped pompon.

l2. i pompon-trimmingmachine, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a rotary carrier, a plurality ot circular pompon-supporting jaws carried by shafts journaled in bearings in the carrier, and located equidistant `from the carrier aXis. each jaw being formed to permit a radial arrangement ofthe pompon threads, and to support the pompon with its threads radiating from the axis, and projecting beyond the periphery of the jaw, mechanism for rotating the carrier step-by-step, and holding the carrier stationary, and one of the supporting jaws in an operative trimming position after each partial rotation, a movable loosely rotatable gripping jaw, located over the path of the supporting j aws', and adapted to cooperate with the operative supporting jaw in gripping and compressing a pompon supported thereby, means tor moving the gripping jaw toward and from the operative supporting jaw, means for rotating the saidsupporting jaw, the pompon. and the gripping jaw, and cutting means adapted and arranged to cooperate with the operative supporting jaw and the gripping jaw in forming a circular edge on the gripped and rotated pompon` e pompon -trimming machine comprising, in combination, a supporting -trame haying a pompon-feeding table and a pompondischarging table, a carrier rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane on the trame, a plurality ot circular pompon-supporting jaws, carried by shafts journaled in bearings inthe carrier and located equidistant from the carrier axis, each jaw being formed to permit a radial arrangement of the pompon threads, and to support the pompon with its threads radiating from the axis, and projecting from the periphery of the jaw, cutting means supported by the frame between the feeding and discharging tables, mechanism for rotating the carrier step-by-step, and holding the carrier at rest after each artial rotation, the `arrangement being such ythat when the carrier is at rest, one lower jaw is located at the supplying table, another at the cutting means, and a third at the receiving table, a movable loosely rotating gripping aw and operating mechanism therefor,` cooperating with the supporting jaw located at the cutting` means, to grip and release a pompon thereon, mechanism for rotating the jaws to cause the formation ot acircular edge on a pompon by the cutting means, and mechanism associated the center, are rigidly supported throughout the greater portion or' their length, and are free at their outer end portions, and trimming off said end portions at their junction with the rigidly supported p0rtions. p

lin testimony Whereorn I have aiiXed my signature. Y

CLARK HARVVOOD. 

